Battery terminal clamp



Jul 14, 1931. E, HEDGES 1,814,156

BATTERY TERMINAL CLAMP Filed Feb. 14. 1929 INVENTOR (Jar/ran fkafym" BYMV64J WITNESS ATTORN EY Patented July 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES E. HEDGES, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF '10 HILIDREY FERGUSON, OF SOUTH RICHMOND, VIRGINIA BATTERY TERMINAL CLAMP Application filed February 14; 1929. Serial No. 389,843.

My invention relates to improvements in battery terminal connectors, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provlde a quick detachable battery connector of such construction as to afford positive contact be tween the connector and binding post.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clamp wherein the means for eifecting the fastening between the clamp and binding post is accomplished without the use of bolts and nuts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a clamp which will readily adapt itself to bindin posts of varying diameters.

Another ob ect of the invention is the provision of a battery clamp composed of hinged sections, the pivots of such sections being suitably spaced from the binding post, thereby eliminating the possibility of corrosion of the pivots. I

Additional objects, advantages, and features of invention will be apparent from the following description, considered in conj unction with accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view of my clamp as applied to a battery binding post.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of my clamp in open position.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of amodified form. g

In carrying out my invention I providea clamp 1, composed of hinged sections 2 and 3. The sections 2 and 3 are semi-circular in top plan, the concave portions of these sections tapering from one side to the other, in order to conform to the usual tapered bind-ing'posts of batteries.

The section 2 is cut away to provide opposed ears 5 at its upper and lower sides. Upon the opposite side of the section'2 there is provided an enlargement 6 having a transverse slot 7. A link 8 is pivotally mounted within the slot 7 as at'9.

A locking cam 10 is pivoted upon the link 8 as at 11. The camlO is provided with a slot 12 through which the link 8 is swingable. v

The enlargement 6 terminates in a laniform face 13, adapted to co-operate with an abutting face of the section 3, as will be explained hereinafter.

A cable-receiving collar 14 is integrally formed upon the section 2, in which a conductor cable 15 is secured, in the usual manner.

The section 3 has an integrally formed ear 16 which is formed approximately midway of the section 3 (see Fig. 2) and extending in a plane to lie between the ears 5. A pivot pin 17 connects the sections 2 and 3.

' The end opposite the ear 16 terminates in an extension 18 having a planiform face 19 adapted to lie in a plane parallel to the face 13 of the section 2. Midway of the extension 18, I provide a slot 20 adapted to receive the link 8 therewithin, When the sections 2 and 3 are in closed position. The outer surface of the extension 18 is suitably-formed as at 21, to afford a seat for the cam 10.

Anysuitable means may be provided for manipulating the cam 10, but in the present instance, I have preferred to show an integrally formed handle 22 so shaped as to snugly abut the section 3, when in closed position (see Fig. 1).

Reference is now made to Fig; 4:, wherein a modified form of my clamp is illustrated. In this form, the locking means is identical with that previously described, but it will be noted that the post engaging band 23 is made in one piece, and that the band is reduced in thickness, as at 2 1. The provision of the reduced part will have a tendency to spring the free ends of the clamp outwardly, thus increasifng the grip of the cam upon contacting suraces.

It should be noted that the pivots 9, 11 and 17 are positioned a substantial distance from the contacting surfaces of the sections 2 and 3 and the binding post, and thereby minimizing the liability of corrosion of these parts.

In the use of my device, a clamp with its associated cable is placed in its open position about a binding post. The section 3 is 2 and 3 in this position the cam is swun on its pivot 9 so that the link 10 is engage within the slot 20. The handle 22 of the cam 10 is next moved on its pivot 11 so that the 5 small end of the cam is engaged within the cam seat 21. Further movement of the handle 22 inwardly toward the section 3 will cause movement of the parts 6 and 18 toward each other by virtue of engagement of the enlarged lo portion of the cam within the cam seat. To release the clamp, it is merely necessary to swing the arm 22 outwardly releasing the cam from its seat and withdrawin the hnk from the slot 20. The sections 2 an 3 may thus be swung on the pivot 17, releasing an engaged binding post.

I claim: 1. A battery connector comprising a pair of semi-circular members, one of said membars having ears formed upon one end thereof, said other member having an ear spaced from its lower edge and arranged to lie between said first named ears, a pivot pin connecting said ears, said members having lat- 25 eral extensions, a link swingably mounted within one of said extensions, said other extension being slotted to receive said link, said last named extension havin a cam seat, and a cam member carried by said link to coact with said cam seat to contract said semicircular members.

2. A battery connector comprising a collar member having a pair of rectilinear and parallel extensions, a link pivotally carried by one of said extensions, a slot adapted to receive said link in the other extension and means mounted on said link and cooperating with said second named extension for securing said extensions in locked engagement.

40 JAMES E. HEDGES. 

